Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

Carefully Think

  • Read Matthew 7:7-12.
  • How does this section on prayer fit in this context? How do you know?  Compare this with the similar account in Luke 11:9-13.
  • Read John 1:12 and Matthew 7:11. What do these verses say about how God views those who are His children?
  • What do these encouragements to pray say about our relationship with the Heavenly Father? What affect should this have on our earthly relationships?
  • How does verse 12, the "Golden Rule," fit in this context of prayer?  How does a right understanding of our relationship with the Father affect our obedience to verse 12?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • List as many encoragements to pray as you can from verses 7-8.
  • How should we understand these promises?  Does this mean that a child of God gets anything they ask?  Why or Why not?  How does Matthew 5:1 affect to your understanding?
  • List ways in which God has shown you the truth of these promises.
  • List how understanding that God only gives good things to His children positiviely affects your relationships.  How would having a weak understanding hinder your relationships? 
  • How can you foster a lifelong love for others that's rooted in the faith that your Father will give only good things through Jesus to those who ask?

Intentionally Act

  • What keeps you from having a devoted prayer life?  
  • How could you cultivate a desire to pray in your life?
  • Do you struggle in your relationships, being selfless and humble in your love for others?  How would a deep understanding of your position in Christ, and God's overwhelming promises for your good affect this attitude in your life?
  • Pray for our church to specifically show the kind of love Jesus is calling for in this passage.
  • Pray for those who will be leading our service on Sunday: Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, Elders' Prayer and Scripture Reading; Bret Capranica, teaching.
  • Listen to the music we will be singing on Sunday and prepare yourself to sing with the church. Consider how the lyrics undergird the message of Matthew 7:7-12.

Songs for Sunday

Lyrics

Morning Gathering - February 17, 2013 by Summit Woods Baptist Church